Method of and apparatus for weighing out charges



Nov. 22, 1938. N E. DORRINGTON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING OUT CHARGES.

9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 18, 1934 Nov. 22, 1938. N. E. DOIQQRINGTON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING OUT CHARGES led Jan. 18, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 1938- N. E. DORRINGTON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING OUT CHARGES Filed Jan. 18, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 22, 1938. E, DQRRINGTQN 2,137,334

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING OUT CHARGES Filed Jan. 18, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Now-22, 1938. N. E. DORRINGTON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING OUT CHARGES Filed Jan. 18, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 22; 1938. N. E. DORRINGTON 7,

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING OUT CHARGES Filed Jan. 18, 1954 '9 sheets-sheets Nov. 22, 1938. N. E. DORRINGTON 2,137,334

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING OUT CHARGES Filed Jan. 18, 1934 9 Shgets-Sheet 7 Nov. 22, 1938. N. E. DORRINGTON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING OUT CHARGES Filed Jan. 18, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet a Nov. 22, 1938, N. E. DORRINGTON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING OUT CHARGES Filed Jan. 18, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented Nov. 22, 1938 ING OUT CHARGES Neill E. Dorrington, Oswego, N. Y., assignoito St.

Regis Paper Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 18,

1'? Claims. This invention relates to a weighing device and 4 more particularly to an automatic weighing apparatus in which the main charge'is fed into a weighing can or bucket rapidly and the'charge is completed by a dribble feed.

An object of the invention is to provide a method by which a continuous, substantially uniform stream of material may be divided into sue-- cessive weighed charges, while weighing out the charges by introducing the major portion of a charge into a weighing receptacle rapidly and, completing the charge by a relatively slow dribble feed.

.A further object is to provide apparatus by which this method can be carried out.

Another object of the invention is to produce a weighing device of the character described in which the major movements are produced by mechanical power from any desired source while these movements are controlled by the operation of the weighing beam with the least practicable interference with the free weighing motion.

Another object of the invention is to provideapparatus whereby the gates and deflectors necessary for the weighing operation are controlled and operated in proper sequence, mainly by mechanical timing means, the operation of which is instituted by tripping mechanism.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. I

The apparatus in general comprises a supporting device, a device for receiving and controlling the main feeding stream and dividing it into main charges and additional dribble feed charges, a weighing device determining the exact weight of each charge and controlling mechanism tripped by th weighing device but having mechanical power received from another source for operating and, controlling the sequence of movements of the gates, deflectors, etc. Details will appear in, the following full description.

In the drawings forming a part of this speci-v llcation one form of apparatus embodying the invention is shown in considerable detail. Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus viewed from the right. of Figures 1 and 2'. Figure 4 is a partial vertical longitudinal section showing in particular the operation of the interrupting gates for accumulating the main charge. Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the tripping, timing and control mechanism, parts being removed for a clearer view of the operating mechanism. Figure 6 is a detail sec- 1934, Serial No. 707,087 (01. 249-) tion of a dash pot arrangement shown in Figure 5. Figure 7 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 5 but showing certain of the parts in a different position. Figure 8 is a horizontal section of the timing and controlling device. Figure 9 is a partial vertical section through a portion of the tripping, timing and controlling device. Figure 10 is a vertical section on the line Ill-40. of Figure ,9. Figure 11 is a section somewhat similar to Figure 9 but taken on another plane. Figure 12 is a section on the line l2l2 of Figure 11. Figure 13 is a sectional detail showing the mounting of the weighing can upon the scale beam.-

Figure 14 is.a detail section showing the mounting of the scale beam upon the main supporting bracket. In a number of these figures certain parts are omitted for clarity of illustration. Figures 15, 16 and 1'7 are somewhat diagrammatic views showing the method of dividing the stream into charges.

The mechanism shown is supported by a bracket 20 which has a flattened portion 2| suitable for bolting to any supporting structure. A hopper 22 for directing and controlling a feeding stream is attached at 23 to a forward projection on bracket 20. From the sides of bracket 20 there are projections 24 and 25 on which are pivoted scale beams 26 and 21 from the forward ends of which is hung a weighing can 28 and from the rear ends of which is hung a main weight 29. Beneath bracket 20 there is attached at 30 a housing 3| for tripping and timing control mechanism.

The directing and controlling feed hopper 22 has two downwardly extending boots 32, 33 terminating in openings 34 and 35 which are shown in the drawings as being closed by arcuate gates. The gate 36 which closes opening 34 is pivoted to the hopper at 31 while the gate 38, whichcloses opening 35, is pivoted to the hopper at 39. An arm 40 extending upward and forward from pivot 31 and attached to gate 36 is connected by a link 4| to arm 42 extending forward from pivot 39 andattached to gate 38. An arm 43 extending upward and to the rear from pivot 39 and attachedto gate' 38 has pivoted to the end thereof a connecting member 44 which is adjustably attached to a rod 45-which connects it to a connecting member 46. Connecting member 46 is pivoted to a control arm 41 which is actuated in a manner toberdescribed later.

Hopper zz'isprovided with an opening 50 between boots 32 and 33. A wall 5| extends upward from the rear side of opening 50 and partially forward over the opening, while a wall I! extends upward and to the rear from the front side of opening 58. Between the upper ends of walls 5| and 52 there is an inlet opening 53. A V-shaped deflector 54 is mounted to swing into and out of space 53. The deflector is mounted on an arm pivoted at 58 and an arm 51 pivoted at 58. These pivots are mounted in brackets 58 extending upward from the sides of hopper 22. From arm 51 there projects a screw threaded bolt 88 on which there is mounted adjustably a weight 8| which normally urges deflector 54 towards opening 53.

There also projects from arm 51 an arm 82 connected by a link 83 with anarm 84 pivoted at 85 and operated as will be described later.

At the end of arm 24 there is a fork 18 (see Fig. 14) in which there is mounted a bearing block H which is adjustable upon a pin 12 extending crosswise of the fork. A knife edge bearing 13 is pivoted upon bearing block H and is attached to and supports scale beam 28. On arm 25 there is a similar fork 14 which in like manner supports knife edge bearing 15 of scale beam 21.

A cross bar 18 extends between the rear ends of the scale beams. At each end of cross bar 18 there is a mounting 11 for a bearing block 18 which is'adjustably mounted upon a pin 18 in the end 11 and rests upon a knife edge bearing 88 extending from the end of the scale beam. Hangers 8| extend downward from cross bar 18 and support main weight 28. The main weight may comprise a metal container or basket in which there is placed a plurality of blocks, the number of which may be varied for rough adjustment oi the weight.

A rear extension 83 of the bracket 28 has an upper arm 84 in which there is.mounted a set screw 85 adapted to contact a central member 88 in cross arm 18 and limit the upward movement of the cross arm. Extension 83 likewise has a lower arm 81 in which there is mounted an adjustable screw 88 which limits the downward movement of arm 18 and weight 28.

Projections 88 from the side of scale beam 21 carry a bar 8| on which there is slidablethe relatively small counterpoise weight 82 by which fine adjustment of weight may be made.

A bar 83 having thereon an adjustable weight 84 has one end '85 resting upon a knife edge bearing 88 extending outward from scale beam 28 and in line with knife edge bearing 13. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 14.) The other end of bar 83 normally rests upon a lug 81 extending outward from scale beam 28 when that can is in its upper position. When the can is lowered by the weight of material therein raising main weight 28, bar 83 encounters lug 88 extending from hopper 22. Weight 84 thus acts as a dribble feed weight, as will be more fully disclosed later.

In the form disclosed the bottom end of the weighing can is closed by two gates I88 and I8f (see Fig. 3). These gates extend inward under a central cross piece I82 and are pivoted at I83 at the sides of the can. Each gate has an outward extension I84, the end of which is adapted to encounter a block I on the side of the can when the gate is fully open. A cushioning member may be provided at this point either upon the block or upon the extension if desired.

An arm I88 extends upward from gate I88 and is connected by a link I81 to a lug I88 beneath gate I8I. By this link connection the gates are compelled to move in unison.

A vertical bar I88 is pivoted at III to gate I88. The upper end of bar I88 has an offset portion III normally fitting around a rockmember II2 pivoted at II3. An arm II4 extends upward from this rock member and is connected by pivot II5 to the upper end of bar I88. An arm II8 extends horizontally from rock member II2, when the gates are in closed position, and has extending from the end thereof a threaded bolt II1 on which there is an adjustable weight II8. hold the parts in the position in which they are shown in Figure 3, and that pivots II5, III and I I8 are in line, so that the weight of the gates and material thereon is borne by pivot II3. Arm II8 has thereon a lug II8 for purposes which will be described later.

From the side of hopper 22 there extend guide brackets I28 and I2I in which there is guided a rod I22 which has thereon an abutment member I23 adapted to contact a lug I24 on the upper end of arm II4. Between block I23 and guide I 2I there is a normally compressed spring I25. The outer end of rod I22 is connected to an arm I28 on a rock shaft I21 mounted in an arm I28 extending from hopper 22. (See Fig. 2.) Another arm I28 extending from the lower end of rock shaft I21 has pivoted thereto a rod I 38, the other end of which is pivoted to the upper end of an arm I3I which in turn is pivoted upon housing 3| and is operated in the manner which will be described hereafter. V

In detail Figure 13 there is shown the manner in which weighing can 28 is supported from the scale beams. It will be understood that the construction is the same at each side of the can although only one of the supports is shown. A bracket I32 is attached to the upper part 01 the side of weighing can 28 and extends above the wall of the can and is formed thereabove with a recess I33. Over this recess there is a cover I34 fastened in place by bolts I35. (See Figure 2.) Underneath cover I34 there is a block I38 which rests on a pivot block I31 held adjustably in the recess by a pin I38. This bearing block I31 rests upon a knife edge pivot I38 on the end of a stud I48 held in beam 28 by a nut I. It will be understood that the other pivotal connections with the scale beam, being described in detail, are similar to that shown in Figure 13.

To the rear of scale beam 28 there is connected a tripping device, as most clearly appears from Figure 5. A knife edge pivot support I45 extends outward from the side of the beam and there rests thereon a link I48, the lower end of which is pivoted by a knife edge connection to an arm I41 on a rock shaft I48 mounted in housing 3I. The upper end of link I 46 is formed with an elongated slot I58 receiving pivotal support I45 and allowing for lost motion, for purposes which will be described later.

The construction mounted in the control housing will be described. next, particularly in connection with Figures 5 to 12 inclusive. A main shaft I52 is mounted across the'housing and is driven by any suitable means, not shown. Main shaft I52 carries a worm I53 which meshes with a worm wheel I54 mounted loosely upon a shaft I55, but having a driving connection with the shaft through a clutch which will be described later. On the other end of shaft I55 there is mounted a gear I58 meshing with a larger gear. I51, gear I51 being an even multiple of the size of gear I58, in the example shown gear I51 being four times as large as gear I58. Pinned to the It will be seen that this weight tends to 1U side of gear I51 there is a cam I58 which is keyed onto a shaft I59. A cam I60 is held in place against cam I58 by means of a plate I6I clamped in place by bolts I62. Cam I60 is concentric for about one-half of its periphery and has a rise or lobe I63 extending around its other half. Cam I58 is concentric at I64 for about three-quarters of its periphery.

The clutch through which worm wheel I54 drives shaft I comprises driving member I65 attached to worm wheel I54 and driven member I66 attached to shaft I55. The opening and closing of the clutch is controlled by a clutch finger I61 in a well known manner, this clutch finger being normally urged by a spring, not shown, into clutch closing position but being forced into clutch opening position when it encounters a stop. In the drawings it is shown in open position, held in that position by a stop finger I68 mounted upon a rock shaft I69. Figure 12 in particular.) A lug I10 attached to the finger is connected by a tension spring I1I to a pin I12 mounted in housing 3I and normally urges stop finger I68 into clutch opening position. A finger I13 projecting at an angle from finger I68 rests ina recess I14 in cam I15 on shaft I59 when finger I68 is in clutch opening position. A lug I16 projects upwards from finger I68 and is in position to be contacted by a lug I11 projecting outward from a shaft I18 which may be operated by an arm I19 when desired. This is a manually operable tripping connection which may be used when desired, but is not used during the normal operation of the machine, as will be explained later.

The arm 41 which controls the position of gates 36 and 38 is mounted upon a.- rock shaft I80 journalled in the housing 3|. An arm I8I extending upward from rock shaft I80 carries at its upper end a roller I82 normally held in a recess I83 in a latch member I84 pivoted at I85. The latch member has a rearwardly extending cam member I86 and a downwardly extending latch finger I81 held in place by a latch plate I88 on arm I49 in the position of the apparatus shown in Figure 7. When arm 41 is in the position in which it is shown in Figure '7 it will be seen that gates 36 1 and 38 are in open position. When scale beam a roller I91 contactingcam I60.

26 raises link I46 so as to move plate I88 below the end of latch finger I81, latch member I84 swings to the position in which it is shown in Figure 5 and allows the weight of the gates 36 and 38 to close them, swinging roller I82 backwards along cam I86 and forcing latch finger I81 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 5.

In order to prevent this motion from resulting in a sudden jar which might be transmitted to the weighing mechanism with injurious results, a cushioning arrangement is preferable. In the construction shown a dash pot connection is provided for this purpose. (See Figure 4 and detail Figure 6.) A cylinder I90 is pivoted at I9I to a pin I92 fastened to the housing 3|. A piston I93 within the cylinder is connected by a rod I94 to a pivot I95 on arm I8I. The piston and rod fit closely enough within the cylinder and the end of the cylinder so that air is compressed between the piston and the end of the cylinder by rapid movement of arm I8I, and the closing movement of the gates is cushioned in this way.

Projecting downward and forward from rock shaft I there is an arm I96 bearing on its end Arm 64, which controls the movement of V- (See hopper 22 so on down into weighing can shaped deflector gate 54, is mounted upon rock shaft 65 journalled in'housing 3|. Mounted on pivot pin I beside latch member I84 there is a latch member 200 having a downwardly extendingfinger 20I engaging plate I88 in the position in which the apparatus is shown in Figure 5. Latch 200 has near its upper end a socket 202 in which there normally rests a roller 203 on the end of an arm 204 projecting from rock shaft 65. Loosely mounted upon rock shaft 65 beside arm 204 there is an'arm 205 connected by a pin and slot connection 206 for angular adjustment with respect to arm 204. On the end of arm 205 there "is extended an operating lug 201, the end of which projects above a lug 208 rigid upon the pivot shaft I69 of trip finger I68.

Arm I3I which controls dumping gates I00 and IN is mounted on rock shaft 2I0 from the other end of which there projects upwards an arm 2 contacting cam I58 and in position to drop into a recess 2I2 in that cam as soon as it moves from the position in which it is shown in Figures 5, 7 and 10.

In order to prevent any danger of the overrunning of shaft I55 and the controlling cams when the clutch is opened by contact of clutch finger I61 with stop finger I68, there is provided on shaft I55 a brake drum 2I3 against which a shoe 2 I4 may be pressed to the desired extent by a set screw 2I5.

The mechanism having been described in detail, the operation of the device will be briefly summarized. Assuming that the parts are in the position in which they are shown in Figure '7, and a stream,'not indicated on the drawings, is being discharged into hopper 22, gates 36 and 38 will be open and deflector gate 54 will be swung to the right as shown in the drawings. Accordingly the stream, which is preferably directed into the middle of hopper 22. is. divided into three portions, the side portions-going through the sides of through openings 34 and 35 into weighing can 28, while the central portion of the stream flows downward between deflecting member 54 and the top of partition 5I through passage 53 and 28. This operation continues until the greater portion of the required charge has been fed into can 28 whereupon weight 29 is overbalanced, and the forward ends of the scale'beams move downward until auxiliary bar 93 rests upon stop 98. This relieves the can from weight 94 and therefore the beam is halted for a time in this position, but the movement of the scale beam to this position is sufficient to raise link I46 and depress arm I49 and plate I88 sufiiciently to release latch finger I81 whereupon arm 41 swings from the position in which it is shown in Figure '1 to that in which it is shown in Figures 4 and 5, gates 36 and 38 closing in this manner, as described in connection with the detailed showing. It may be added that the proportion of the parts constituting the connections of the gates is such that one of the gates moves slightly ahead of the other gate so that their movement is not exactly simultaneous and being slowed up by dash pot I90, there is no abrupt or sudden change in the amount of material being deposited in the weighing can, but the reduction of the stream is gradual.

It will be readily seen that after these gates are closed the material constituting the sides of the feeding stream is caught by these gates and accumulates in the two sides of hopper 22, while only the portion entering passage 53 continues into the weighing can. This comparatively small dribble feed continues until it has made up the balance of the required charge whereupon the forward ends of the scale beams again descend, raising link I46 and depressing latch plate I88 sufliciently to free the end of latch finger 20I Thereupon shaft I55 and cams I58 and I60 begin to turn. As the cams and shaft I59 turn, cam I15 is moved so that its concentric portion encounters finger I13 and holds stop finger I 68 out of the path of clutch finger I61 until a complete revolution of the cams has been made, whereupon finger I13 drops into recess I14 in cam I15, allowing finger I68 to return to its stopping position. In this way one revolution, and one only, of the controlling cams is made.

As soon as cam I58 starts to move in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 7, arm 2 drops into recess 2I2 allowing spring I25 to urge rod I22 to the right, as shown in Figure 3, swinging rock shaft I21 and arm I3I as will be readily understood. When rod I22 is moved in this manner lug I23 encounters lug I24 on arm H4 and swings pivot II5 to the right of a position over pivot I I3. Thereupon the weight of the material upon gates I00 and IOI counterbalances weight H8 and swings the gates open, dumping the material in the cam. When the gates are swung in this manner their extended ends I04 encounter bumpers I05 and hold the gates in the dotted line position in which they are shown in Figure 3. Immediately after the material is discharged from can 28 in this manner, the concentric portion I64 of cam I 58 encounters arm 2 forcing it back to the position in which it is shown in Figure '7 and thereby drawing rod I22 back to the position in which it is shown in Figure 3. The weighted extensions I04 of the gates and weight II8 on arm H6 close the gates when lug I23 encounters lug IIS and starts arm II6 to the left.

As the cams continue to turn, the rise or lobe I63 of cam I60 encounters roller I81 and rocks shaft I back to the position in which it is shown in Figure 7. As a matter of fact the lobe extends slightly farther than is necessary to force the rock shaft to this position and the resulting overtravel moves arm I8I and roller I82 far enough to force fingers I81 and 20I Well beyond the path of latch plate I88. The elongated slot I50 allows plate I 88 to be depressed during the movement thereover of latch fingers I 81 and MI. even though the scale beam has returned to its original position before this action takes place. This swinging movement of rock shaft I 80 returns arm 41 to the gate opening position shown in Figure 7. During this movement the gates likewise move slightly in succession, that is one gate starting to open slightly before the other gate so that the material is not dropped suddenly into the can. but is poured downward in a gradually increasing stream. The slight over-travel of rock shaft I80, as discussed above, makes certain that the gates are both swung to fully open position so that the accumulated material in hopper 22 is fully discharged into the weighing can. Thereafter the slight return of the gates will do no damage as the openings are left amply large for the discharge of the material as fast as it is fed in by the main feeding stream.

This same movement of rockshaft I 80, through the contact of roller I 82 with latch member 200, moves that latch member against roller 203 and rocks shaft 65 and arm 64 so as to swing deflecting gate 54 back to its open position, as shown in Figure 4. It also raises cam 201 out of the way of lug 208 so that when the rotation of cam I15 allows finger I13 to drop into recess I14, lug 208 has been freed and stop finger I68 is immediately moved by spring I1I into stopping position. Thereafter the cycle of operation is repeated.

1 The above description has assumed the continued automatic operation of the device. Under some circumstances it is desirable to make the exact time of dumping the charge dependent upon the readiness for the charge of a packaging device or other receiver.

To provide for such a situation, the apparatus is constructed so that the charge may be called at the will of an operator instead of the discharge following automatically upon the swinging of the scale beam.

This is effected by loosening bolt and slot connection 206, swinging member 201 upward so that it will not contact lug 208 when roller 203 drops to its lowest position and fastening member 20! in that raised position. Thereafter the downward movement of the weighing can is not followed automatically by the closing of clutch I65I66, but the clutch can be closed and the charge called, at any time after it is completed, by operating arm I10 to actuated lug I11 and through it release stop finger I 68 from the clutch-closing finger I61.

In Figs. 15, 16 and 17 there is shown diagrammatically successive steps in the operation of dividing the stream into charges.

In these views there is shown a discharge spout 220 from which a continuous substantially uniform stream 22I may be discharged in any suitable manner.

When gates 36 and 38 and deflector 54 are in their closed positions, as shown in Fig. 15, during the dumping of the previous charge, the stream is divided at the upper end of partition 5I and is accumulated as masses 222 and 223 above gates 36 and 38 respectively.

After gates I00 and IM have closed, gates 36 and 38 and deflector 54 are swung to their open positions, as shown in Fig. 16. Thereupon masses 222 and 223 are dropped upon gates I00 and IOI,

the bottoms of the masses being pointed by the gradual opening of the gates, so that the descending masses are pointed at the bottoms, as shown at 224 and 225. It will be readily understood that when arm 42 moves downward the breaking of the toggle formed by it and link 4I moves arm 40 only slowly on the start, so that gate 38 opens ahead of gate 36 and.mass 223 reaches the bottom of the weighing can slightly ahead of mass 222.

While gates 36 and 38 and deflector 54 are in their open positions, stream 22I is divided into three parts, sub-stream 226 flowing to the right of deflector 54 as viewed in Fig. 16, sub-stream 221 flowing through opening 53, and sub-stream 228 flowing to the left of partition 5|. These three sub-streams, constituting the entire flow of stream 22I, continue into the weighing can until the can is depressed thereby and releases latch I81.

When latch I81 is tripped, gates 36 and 38 are closed, and streams 226 and 226 start accumulating thereabove, while stream 221 continues, as shown in Fig. 17, until the full charge is received in the weighing can, whereupon latch 20I is tripped and deflector 54 is moved to deflect stream portion 221 into the accumulating mass above gate 36.

Normally the charge is dumped and gates 36 and 38 reopened before the material accumulated accumulation of material in hopper 22. If

stream 22l is forcibly fed, some arrangement may be made for stopping the force feed when necessary, no such stoppage being necessary during the normal operation of the apparatus.

It will be seen from the above that a con tinuous substantially uniform stream can befed into hopper 22 and that stream is divided continuously into successive weighed charges, each charge being formed first by the dropping of the accumulated material above gates 36 and 38 and then by the full amount of the feeding stream until the main charge has been received. Thereupon the major portion of the feeding stream is interrupted by gates 36 and 38 and accumulated while the central portion of the stream passing through passage 53 completes the weighed charge. This completion'is sufficiently rapid, and the discharge of the weighing can is so prompt after the completion of the charge, that after the closing of the gates 36 and 38 the charge is completed and emptied and discharge gates I80 and I8! are again closed before hopper 22 is filled and preferably the completion of the charge by dribble feed and the emptying of the weighing can occupies only a minor portion of the time so that there is no danger of the accumulated material on gates 36 and 38 dropping with sufli cient force to have its momentum move the scale beams.

The above arrangement is both accurate and rapid and is particularly advantageous as it makes possible the feeding of the material in an uninterrupted and substantially uniform stream. when the feeding stream is stopped and started there are delays as well as difficulties introduced in the handling of the material so that this possibility of feeding the material to the weighing device in a continuous substantially uniform stream is a material improvement over any method by which intermittent streams are fed.

It will be further noted that the controlling mechanism for the gates of the feed hopper 22 as well as the discharge gates of the weighing can does not place any obstruction in the way of the free undisturbed movement of the weighing beams. The timing of the operation is controlled by the trip actuated by the scale beam through link I46, but power is supplied from any desired source to actually effect the movements of the gates so that the friction upon the scale beam by its control operation is reduced to a minimum.

It will be-readily understood that the details of the operating mechanism can be varied in many ways without departing from the main features of the invention and that the details are shown by way of illustration only except as hereinafter specified in the claims.

What I claim is:-

1. The method of segregating weighed charges of material which consists in forming a continuously flowing substantially uniform stream of the material and controlling the flow into a weighing receptacle to feed the main portion of a desiredcharge into the receptacle rapidly and then completing the exact amount of the desired charge slowly, discharging the weighed charge from the receptacle and repeating.

2. The method which consists in forming a continuously flowing, substantially uniform stream of material, feeding the material into a weighing I receptacle until the major portion of a desired charge is received in the receptacle, then intercepting and accumulating a portion of the stream and eontinuing to feed into the receptacle the remaining portion of the stream until theexact amount of the desired charge is completed, then intercepting said remaining portion of the stream and discharging the weighed charge from the receptacle, then feeding into the receptacle the material accumulating during said interceptions, then feeding into the receptacle the. full stream until the major portion of a desired charge is received in the receptacle, then intercepting and accumulating a portion of the stream while continuing to feed into the receptacle the remaining portion of the stream, and repeating the steps described in succession and thereby dividing the continuous stream into a succession of weighed charges. 1

3. The method which consists in forming a continuously flowing substantially uniform stream of material and dividing the stream into a succession of weighed charges by feeding material from the stream into a weighing receptacle rapidly until the major portion of a charge is received in the receptacle and then feeding matestream of material, intermittently intercepting and accumulating portions of the stream and allowing said accumulated portions to proceed with the stream, and forming weighed charges by flrst fllling intercepted portions of the stream into a weighing receptacle to place therein a portion of a charge rapidly, and finally bringing the amount in the receptacle to the exact predetermined weight by a portion only of the stream while intercepting a portion of the stream to accumulate material for the successive charge.

5. Weighing apparatus including means providing a constantly flowing stream of material, a weighing receptacle, stream regulating and accumulating means interposed between the stream providing means and the-receptacle, controlling means for the regulating means and the receptacle, said controlling means stopping the flow of material from said regulating means to said receptacle when the receptacle has received a predetermined amount, dumping the receptacle and returning the receptacle to receiving position and reopening flow from the regulating means, the operation of the control means beingv timed with respect to the capacity of the regulating means and the size of said stream so that the regulator has storage room for'more material than flows from the stream providing means during the interval flow from the regulating means is stopped, whereby the material is weighed out and dumped in successive weighed charges without interrupting or varying the continuous flow from said providing means.

6. In combination, means for providing a constant stream of material, a weighing receptacle, stream regulating and accumulating means between the stream providing means and the re-" ceptacle and comprising an accumulating hopper and discharge gates, and control means for the receptacle when a predetermined weight has accumulated in the receptacle, and thereafter returning the empty receptacle to receiving position and opening said gates, the gates and receptacle having capacities for discharging material larger than the capacity of the stream providing means, and the parts being related so that successive charges are weighed and dumped without interrupting or slowing up said constant stream.

'7. Weighing apparatus comprising a weighing device provided with a receptacle, means to provide a stream of material above the receptacle, a stream-controlling hopper comprising means to divide the stream into stream portions and independent means to interceptdiiferent stream portions, and means controlling the intercepting means and operating them to remove them from intercepting position when the receptacle is empty and to move them into intercepting position successively as the receptacle fllls, said controlling means including a plurality of latches tripped by movement of the weighing receptacle to successively lower positions, the weighing device including counterbalancing means providing increased counterbalance for the receptacle as it moves downward, and said controlling means comprising means to time the operation of the successive intercepting means in accord. ance with successive pcmitions of the receptacle, said stream-forming means having a constantly open discharge mouth above the receptacle.

8. Weighingapparatus comprising a source for a constant substantially uniform stream of material, a hopper in the path of said stream, a partition in the hopper normally dividing the stream into portions, a gate movable across the outlet of one stream portion, a deflector movable into and out of the path of a second stream portion and, when in said path, deflecting said second stream portion onto said gate, means to flrst close the gate and then move the deflector into operative position, means to open the gate and move the deflector to inoperative position, a weighing receptacle, and means controlled by the movements of the receptacle and operating the gate and deflector.

9. Weighing apparatus comprising a source for a constant substantially uniform stream of material, a hopper in the path of said stream, a partition in the hopper normally dividing the stream into portions, a gate movable across the outlet of one stream portion, a deflector movable into and out of the path of a second stream por tion and, when in said path, deflecting said second stream portion onto said gate, means to first close the gate and then move the deflector into operative position, means to open the gate and move the deflector into inoperative position, a weighing receptacle, a power operated device, and means controlled by the movement of said receptacle and timing the actuation of said gate and deflector from said power device.

10. Weighing apparatus comprising a source for a constant substantially uniform stream of material, a hopper in the path of said stream, a partition in the hopper normally dividing the stream into portions, a gate movable across the outlet of one stream portion, a-deflector movable into and out of the path of a second stream por tion and, when in said path, deflecting said second stream portion onto said gate, means to first close the gate andthen move the deflector into operative position, means to open the gate and move the deflector into inoperative position, a

weighing receptacle, a discharge gate for the receptacle, powermeans, and means controlled by the position of the receptacle and timing the operation from the power device of the said gates and deflector.

11. A weighing device comprising a power driven shaft, 8. series of cams, a self-opening clutch connecting the shaft and cams, a weighing receptacle, means supporting the receptacle and yielding in response to the weight of material in the receptacle, a plurality of devices actuated by said cams and governing the admittance of material to the receptacle and the discharge therefrom, manually operable means for closing the clutch, and means controlled by the downward movement of the receptacle for closing the clutch, the last said means including a member adjustable to make said means effective or ineffective, as desired.

12. A weighing device comprising a scale beam, a receptacle supported on the beam, a main counterbalance, auxiliary means increasing the effective counterbalance at an intermediate position of the receptacle, a source of a substantially constant stream of material over the receptacle, a hopper in the path of the stream, a partition in the hopper dividing the stream into stream portions, a gate movable into position at the bottom of the hopper across the outlet of one stream portion, a deflector movable into and out of the path of a second stream portion, means normally urging the gate to closed position, means normally urging the deflector to deflecting position, a latch normally holding the gate in open position, a latch normally holding the deflector in inoperative position, a tripping means releasing the gate latch when the receptacle is partly depressed and releasing the deflector latch when the receptacle is fully depressed, a dumping gate for the receptacle, and power operated means controlling the dumping gate and returning the hopper gate and deflector to latched positions.

13. Weighing apparatus comprising a source of supply for a stream ,of material, a stream controlling device and a weighing hopper, said stream controlling device comprising a hopper having a plurality of discharge openings, one of said openings being located at a lower point than another of said openings and having a pocket thereabove, a gate for the lower opening and a combined gate and deflector for the upper opening, said gate and deflector deflecting material into said pocket when it is in position to close the upper of said openings.

14. Weighing apparatus comprising means to supply a stream of material, a weighing receptacle and a stream controlling device above the receptacleysaid device comprising a hopper providing two pockets with a channel therebetween, a gate for the bottom of each pocket and a combined gate and deflector for the top of said channel, said gate and deflector deflecting the material into one of said pockets when in channel-closing position.

15. Weighing apparatus comprising a weighing receptacle and discharge means above the receptacle, said discharge means being provided with a plurality of discharge openings, gates for said openings, a single trip actuated by the weighing means, and connections rendered operable by said trip and closing two of said gates, one of them slightly in advance of the other.

16. Weighing apparatus comprising a weighing receptacle, discharge means above the receptacle and comprising a plurality of discharge gates, control means operated by a predetermined weight of material in the receptacle for closing the gates, and connections between the control means and the gates moving the gates simultaneously over the greater part of their closing movement, but closing one gate slightly before the other.

17. Weighing apparatus comprising a-weighing receptacle, discharge means above the receptacle and comprising a plurality of discharge gates, control means for the gates operated to close them by a predetermined weight of material in the receptacle and to open them after the dumping of the receptacle, and. connections between the control means and the gates moving one of the gates slightly in advance of the other on both opening and closing movements while moving them simultaneously during the greater part oi! each closing and opening move- 

